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Valley of Flowers
Why in News?
The Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand officially opened to tourists on 1st June 2025, marking the start of the annual four-month visiting season.
Key Points
- About the Valley of Flowers: It is located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand and lies within the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve.
- It spans over 87 sq km and lies at an altitude of 3,600 meters above sea level.
- Historical Background:
- It was introduced to the Western world in 1931 when British mountaineers Frank S. Smythe, Eric Shipton, and R.L. Holdsworth discovered it during their return from Mount Kamet.
- Smythe’s 1938 book, Valley of Flowers, brought it global recognition.
- It was introduced to the Western world in 1931 when British mountaineers Frank S. Smythe, Eric Shipton, and R.L. Holdsworth discovered it during their return from Mount Kamet.
- Flora and Fauna: The valley is famous for its wide variety of flowering plants, including orchids, poppies, primulas, marigolds, daisies, and anemones.
- Rare and sacred flowers like the brahmakamal, often offered in religious rituals, also bloom here.
- The valley is home to many medicinal plants and herbs used in traditional healing.
- Several wildlife species inhabit the region, such as the snow leopard, the Himalayan weasel, the black bear, the red fox, the gray langur, the flying squirrel and various species of butterflies including the lime butterfly.
- Natural Features: The valley offers breathtaking views of alpine meadows, cascading waterfalls, glacial streams, and thick forests.
- It lies in a unique transition zone between the Zanskar and Greater Himalaya mountain ranges.
- Conservation Efforts: Due to concerns over ecological damage, the valley was declared a National Park in 1982.
- In 1988, it became part of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, and tourism was reintroduced gradually under strict controls.
- It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, for its exceptional beauty and biodiversity.
- Cultural Significance: The valley holds spiritual importance in Hindu mythology and is traditionally inhabited by the Bhotiya tribe. Sacred flowers like the Brahmakamal are used in religious rituals.
